Champions League (EU) 2026/27

The FIBA Basketball Champions League stands as the premier men’s professional club basketball competition in the region. Organized by FIBA Europe, it operates under a governance structure distinct from the EuroLeague, which relies on a closed license system. Instead, qualification for this tournament is determined by sporting merit derived from domestic league performance and country coefficients.

Established in 2016 following a split in European club basketball, the competition serves as the top tier within the FIBA ecosystem. It sits below the EuroLeague in the global hierarchy but sits above the FIBA Europe Cup. The current season features 32 teams divided into eight groups of four. Teams play a double round-robin format within their groups. The eight group winners progress directly to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, the second and third-placed sides enter a best-of-three Play-In round to secure the remaining eight spots.

The Round of 16 consists of four groups of four teams playing another double round-robin. The top two teams from each group advance to two-legged Quarter-Final ties. The season culminates in a Final Four single-elimination tournament held at a neutral venue. The winner of the competition earns the right to represent their region at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.

Notable participants in the upcoming campaign include AEK Athens, ALBA Berlin, Benfica Lisbon, and Bnei Herzliya. ALBA Berlin has moved from the EuroLeague to join this competition. History shows that CB Canarias, Unicaja Málaga, and Iberostar Tenerife are among the most successful clubs, each holding two titles. Unicaja Málaga are the reigning champions, having won consecutive titles in 2024 and 2025.